In the kitchen of Youyi Peak, the old cook, apron tied and sleeves rolled up, was bustling about. With Nuan Shu’s help, much labor was saved. Steaming baskets emitted hot mist, and there were two large tables just for ingredients. Plates, bowls, and other utensils were celadon porcelain fired in the Longquan kilns, pleasing to the eye. The young girl in the pink skirt had just moved three kinds of cooking wine from the cellar. She poured a bowl, and the old cook held it, gently shaking it and sniffing, then nodded. Lu Langhuan, Liu Ai, and the others were either from prominent families down the mountain or had been cultivating immortal arts on the mountain since childhood. Doing these tasks was truly an act of heartfelt sincerity. They knew it themselves, looking at the old gentleman’s flowing culinary skills, and couldn’t help but think what a blessing it would be to have such an elder in the family.

Old Mr. Zhu was not only patient and good-tempered, but also spoke elegantly and clearly. He would actively chat with them about their hometowns down the mountain, sharing many interesting customs, historical allusions, strange stories, and unusual occurrences that even they weren’t aware of. In just a few words, the old gentleman managed to stir up a faint homesickness in them.

Generally speaking, larger immortal mansions and dojos on the mountain would have a few dedicated cooks and kitchen hands, at least those proficient in medicinal cuisine. This elderly man, it was said, was the old steward of Fallen Mountain. Although his attire was simple – a green robe, long gown, and cloth shoes – he kept himself neat and tidy. His face was amiable, and his demeanor was generous. There was an indescribable refinement about the old man, like an inherent nobility.

A small girl with sparse eyebrows rushed into the kitchen, went straight to the stove, sat on a small stool, picked up a bamboo blowpipe, and looked down at the bright red stove fire. She was ready to start working at any moment.

A young woman with her hair tied in bun knots also entered the kitchen. She rolled up her sleeves, smiled, took the gourd ladle offered by Nuan Shu, washed her hands, tied on an apron, and stood beside the chopping board.

A woman in green with a portable inkstone tied at her waist was responsible for sorting vegetables. During this time, at the old cook’s instruction, she took down a ham from the rafter and handed it to Senior Sister Pei.

There was still some time before the wedding ceremony.

A young girl in a sable cap strode into a thoughtfully arranged bridal chamber and cupped her hands, saying, “Mountain Master’s wife, the bride is well.”

Ning Yao was wrapping bags of wedding candies and nodded in greeting to Xie Gou.

Speaking of the style of the embroidered bags, they were all drawn by Old Mr. Zhu, with Nuan Shu providing handmade samples, and then entrusted to the women cultivators of the Cheyu tribe and the textile weavers of the Caique Mansion to weave. Liu Xianyang and She Yue both felt that so many wedding candies were unnecessary, but Chen Pingan insisted, saying he would use them for gifting.

Xie Gou suddenly jumped back, a look of shock and admiration on her face. “Mountain Master’s wife, you’re almost as beautiful as the bride today!”

Ning Yao pursed her lips and rolled her eyes at her.

Upon learning that Huailu was the Mountain Lord of Luan Mountain, the young girl with rosy cheeks in the sable cap immediately her eyes lit up. Luan Mountain was a good place; it was very effective for matters of marriage and having children. She was extremely obsequious and eager to curry favor with and build connections with Sister Huailu. Chief Xie naturally thought that for her own wedding next time, she would also ask Sister Huailu to help organize it and make it beautiful. As for Old Mr. Zhu and Old Immortal Jia, they were family, and there was no need for formalities.

Huailu, being the Mountain Lord of a Crown Prince’s Mountain, naturally knew the Taoist name “Bai Jing,” but she didn’t have many feelings towards “ancient great demon” or “barbaric Bai Jing.”

Xie Gou felt she had already won over Sister Huailu, just short of formally becoming sworn sisters on the spot. She turned to look at a beautiful woman who was applying makeup for She Yue, admired her skill for a while, and asked, “Are you Sect Master Gu’s maid?”

Gu Lingyan nodded.

Her Taoist name was Chun Xiao, and her alias in the wilderness was Zi Wu Meng, one of the Ten Heavenly Stems cultivators in the wilderness.

Gu Can had given her a new name, and combined with taking Gu Can’s surname, her recorded name on the lineage now was Gu Lingyan.

When speaking with Xie Gou, Huailu was very casual, but Gu Lingyan was quite nervous, even more so than when she was by Gu Can’s side and met the young Hidden Official.

After all, Chen Pingan had a Confucian identity. Before chopping people, he would always talk about etiquette, morals, and the rules of the Temple of Literature.

How could Gu Lingyan not take seriously someone like Bai Jing, an “ancestor” from the barbaric homeland, the patriarch of rogue cultivators in the human world?

Xie Gou glanced at her a few times and said curiously, “Little girl has such great fortune, to actually be able to refine an Indefinite River? Can Yangzhi Fei Fei and the others agree to this?”

Gu Lingyan answered truthfully, “My alias Zi Wu Meng in the wilderness was actually given by Zhou Mi. Because I also have a Heavenly Stem identity, I pretended to pass on a sacred decree. Yangzhi Fei Fei and the others mistakenly thought it was Zhou Mi’s intention, so they didn’t stop me.”

Xie Gou nodded. “Fortune is sought in peril. As our Old Ancestor Jing Qing said, if you take a gamble, the dojo doubles, and the pond becomes a lake.”

Xu Xiaoqiao was stunned for a moment upon hearing this. Old Ancestor Jing Qing? The green-robed boy who was so unrestrained at the blacksmith’s shop by the river back then? Thinking again, it did sound like something he would say.

Gu Lingyan actually had many ancient secrets that she wanted to verify with Bai Jing herself. Xie Gou was in no mood to talk about these old stories with a little girl. She heard that a few of them, including Gu Lingyan, had forced their Mountain Master to improvise poems and couplets more than a dozen times, and also made Gu Can perform several sets of martial arts that had to make loud cracking sounds. At first, those two thick-skinned fellows were so embarrassed they wished they could dig a hole and crawl into it. After a while of teasing, those two got into it themselves. Isn’t it just making us grown men curl our little fingers, take small steps, and sing opera like women? What’s so difficult about that? The result was that Ning Yao blushed deeply, unable to watch. Gu Lingyan even laughed so hard she cried. Xu Xiaoqiao and Huailu were also having fun while their scalps tingled, fearing that after today, they would be silenced by Chen Pingan and Gu Can.

Xie Gou gave them a thumbs-up. “You sisters and sisters are the first ones who dared to tease my Mountain Master and Sect Master Gu like this.”

Xie Gou asked, “Sister Xu, why are you still at the Golden Core realm bottleneck?”

Xu Xiaoqiao smiled frankly. “I’ll be at most at the Nascent Soul realm in this lifetime.”

Xie Gou asked again, “Who told you that?”

Xu Xiaoqiao smiled and said nothing. She was self-aware, and the truth was as she said. In terms of the tenacity and purity of her pursuit of the Tao, Xu Xiaoqiao was actually not weak.

Xie Gou turned her head and asked, “Mountain Master’s wife, what do you think?”

Ning Yao said, “If you think you will definitely stop at the Nascent Soul realm, breaking into the Upper Five Realms will be as difficult as ascending to heaven. If Xu Xiaoqiao refuses to accept her fate and believes there is always a way out, there will be some chance.”

After all, Xu Xiaoqiao was a first-generation disciple of Longquan Sword Sect, not from Sword Qi Great Wall, not like Sun Chunwang, Bai Xuan, and the others. Ning Yao couldn’t say harsh words.

Xie Gou smiled and asked, “Xu Xiaoqiao, if Xie Gou or Ning Yao say you won’t succeed, will you not succeed? If they say you will, will you definitely succeed? On the path of the sword, when is the height you can climb up determined by others?”

Xu Xiaoqiao sighed faintly. It was easy to understand a truth, but she still felt grateful for Xie Gou and Ning Yao’s guidance.

Xie Gou was not in a hurry. She had her own means to make Xu Xiaoqiao change her outlook and see a new world. That magnificent scene of the Great Dao, as long as Xu Xiaoqiao saw it with her own eyes, even if she only felt it was within reach, knowing it was miles away, she believed she would be moved.

Huailu was a bit slow to react. She asked, “That world-shaking Heavenly Communication earlier, the female sword immortal who first flew up with her sword and slashed open the light pillar, was she…?”

Ning Yao lifted her chin towards Xie Gou. “Her true appearance.”

Huailu cupped her hands. “A heroine! Deeply admired!”

Xie Gou grinned. “What’s the difference between a hero and a heroine?”

Near a pavilion halfway up Youyi Peak, Xie Ling used magic to gather a large sea of clouds, serving as a temporary ferry crossing.

Liu Xianyang and a few others, along with Xiao Mo, were squatting on the steps, cracking melon seeds together.

They could see the anomalous cloud formation over Qiyun Mountain. The white clouds hung like pearl curtains, with twelve fringes, indeed worthy of being the old White Peak.

Liu Xianyang laughed. “What a coincidence, the masters of Dragon Ridge Mountain are all gathered today.”

Back then, the Dali Imperial Court divided Dragon Ridge Mountain into four parts: Dali Song Clan, Fengxue Temple, Zhenwu Mountain, and Longquan Sword Sect each took one.

The Dali Imperial Court mined very quickly, chiseling rocks day and night, and entrusted everything to the Mo School, jointly manufacturing sword boats, mountain ferries, and talisman armor, which had wide applications.

Liu Xianyang said, “Old Blacksmith Ruan seemed to have suddenly gained insight back then, comprehending an ancient sword forging technique. The Patriarch Zhao Jingzhen of Fengxue Temple also passed down an ancient sword path to the Ancestral Hall. The threshold for cultivation is not high; Earth Immortals can cultivate it. I heard that the direct disciples of Fengxue Temple have all been cultivating for more than twenty years now. Are these the rewards exchanged for the dragon-slaying stones they sent out?”

Chen Pingan nodded.

However, the Ancestral Hall of Fengxue Temple specifically issued a prohibition for this. If anyone dared to transmit it privately, it would no longer be as simple as having their name removed from the lineage, having their cultivation abolished, and being expelled from the sect. Furthermore, anyone who received the sword technique, regardless of their identity or background, or for whatever reason, would be confined on the mountain by Fengxue Temple until death.

Only Zhenwu Mountain mined slowly, giving them the opportunity to complete that transaction with Mountain Master Chen who personally visited their sect.

Gu Can said, “Wang Zhu and the Dali Song Clan are even, but she owes Cui Can a huge favor.”

The reason why Dragon Slaying Stones are so precious, even for Qi refiners who are not sword cultivators, is revealed by the name “Dragon Slaying Stone” itself. Therefore, the dispersal of these Dragon Slaying Stones, whether it was the two military ancestral courts assisting the Dali Song Clan and jointly resisting demons outside the mountain, or the Dali Iron Cavalry fighting against the barbaric demons on the battlefield, can all be traced back to some extent. Hence, the true dragon Wang Zhu after the dragon slaying battle was effectively forced to contribute to Bottle Continent.

Since she contributed to Bottle Continent, she naturally contributed to Haoran.

Gu Can asked, “Changchun Palace is more troublesome, right? It’s neither suitable for drastic measures as there is no such reason, nor is it suitable for simmering over low heat, as the Dao Heart will really be stewed into mush if it’s simmered further.”

Chen Pingan nodded. “It is indeed thorny.”

Gu Can said, “Flowing water does not become stagnant, and a door pivot does not become worm-eaten. Once it slows down, it’s all hidden dangers.”

Chen Pingan smiled. “Fortunately, there is a group of truly clever people among the younger generation. Earlier on the military ferry, I deliberately flaunted the authority of the Imperial Advisor. Palace Mistress Lu Fanlu was scared half to death. Grand Ancestor Song Yushi remained unenlightened, but a young Earth Immortal named Feng Jie was very insightful.”

Liu Xianyang said, “Throw two troublesome figures next to Changchun Palace. They don’t even need to be border officials like prefects or provincial generals; their official positions really can’t be too high. Just a county magistrate paired with a county official is enough. They don’t need many years either; ten or twenty years will be enough to make them suffer. You and the imperial court don’t need to painstakingly say ‘I’m doing this for your own good.’ Just let them sue each other, keep filing lawsuits all the way to the Ministry of Rites, court discussions, and small court sessions. After three or five times, Changchun Palace will have used up all its connections, and its book of merits will become increasingly thin. By then, even the most unmotivated old fogeys in Changchun Palace should know the gravity of the situation.”

Chen Pingan nodded. “Good idea.”

Liu Xianyang sighed. “Thinking back, where the Liquan ferry passed, there was a torrential rain, and the drought in a thousand li subsided. Changchun Palace did many righteous deeds. And at that time, the cultivators of Changchun Palace couldn’t believe that the Dali Song Clan could have the wealth it has today. They truly acted out of righteousness.”

Chen Pingan said, “If it were another dojo, I wouldn’t be so constrained.”

Gu Can clicked his tongue. “Worthy of someone who diligently traveled across continents to study and seriously read for a few years.”

Liu Xianyang laughed angrily. “If I hadn’t returned home to become Old Blacksmith Ruan’s apprentice, and had pursued my studies step by step in the academy, or gone to the coastal battlefield of Nanposuo Continent to kill demons, I would now be a upright gentleman in a Confucian academy. Maybe even the Vice Mountain Master of that Guanhu Academy would be within reach, not inferior to Wen Yu and the others at all.”

Gu Can nodded and spat out a melon seed shell. “Then the upright gentleman, Vice Mountain Master Liu, would be fortunate enough to wait outside the academy gate with a large crowd, holding his breath, and finally meet the new Dali Imperial Advisor who visited the academy. He would step forward individually, be given a few instructions, and then be beaming with joy, secretly pleased, plotting in his mind. If the Imperial Advisor, out of fellow townsman sentiment, would give him a little support in the imperial court and say a few good words in the Temple of Literature, it might even be possible for him to become a Mountain Master in the future. But when he goes to the Imperial Advisor’s residence in the Dali capital, Mountain Master Liu will hesitate. Should he catch up as a fellow townsman and bring a gift that is light in value but heavy in sentiment, a local specialty, or must he emphasize scholarly integrity and literary character, and choose to go empty-handed, paying respects to the Imperial Advisor…”

Liu Xianyang said angrily, “Again?!”

Chen Pingan slapped Gu Can’s head, but Gu Can turned his head away, predicting the move.

Liu Xianyang said, “It’s also strange. I used to think you might become a master of the dragon kiln in the future, or a merchant who opened a couple of shops, or even establish a dragon kiln in the north. Only I never thought you could become an official.”

Gu Can said, “At that time, there wasn’t even a county office, only a kiln supervision office. Forget about him, wasn’t your ambition wild? Wild enough, right? Did you ever think of becoming an official back then? It was something you didn’t even dare to dream of.”

Liu Xianyang nodded, stating the truth.

Chen Pingan suddenly asked, “Do you want to be the Chief Enshrined of Dali?”

Liu Xianyang was clearly surprised. He rubbed his chin and thought seriously for a moment. “Forget it, so as not to cause gossip all over the mountains of the continent. It’s meaningless.”

Things were different now. The Jade Pure realm used to be a valuable golden nugget. Now, let alone the Immortal realm, even the Ascension realm was not considered a rare figure.

The dispersal of the three Sages’ Dao earlier, after the rain, was equivalent to raising the realm by at least one.

After Chen Pingan and Zhou Mi’s Heavenly Communication, it was as if the realm was raised by another level.

Just as Gu Can was so focused on the words “Ascension,” how could Liu Xianyang, who was so concerned with appearance, underestimate the concept of “proving the Dao”? How could he not care about the term “harmonizing with the Dao” deep down?

Gu Can said, “Why be coy? Don’t let good fortune flow to outsiders. Even if the imperial court accepts Ruan Qiong’s resignation, no one would dare to be this Chief Enshrined. It’s clearly going to the Song Emperor’s imperial study to ask for trouble and discomfort. For example, Cao Rong, Qi Zhen? Or Old Dragon City’s Fu Kui, the head of the Yunlin Jiang family? Those who have the ability lack the courage, and those who have the courage lack the nerve. Even if the small court meeting in the Dali capital discusses it for a whole day, they probably won’t be able to discuss a truly suitable and excellent candidate. Let alone the civil and military officials in the Dali court who have seen the world, just among the river gods, straightforward characters like Tong Wenchang, Fan Junmao, and Cao Yong, plus those who speak with thorns like Wei Bo and Jin Qing, and the arrogant Yang Hua, who was enfeoffed as Marquis Qidu, didn’t she also add fuel to the fire whenever she had the chance? Besides Liu Xianyang, who else can replace Ruan Qiong and sit firmly in that chair?”

Xiao Mo also advised, “Sect Master Liu, in recommending worthies, avoid neither relatives nor strangers. How can one love strangers if they do not love relatives, and how can one love the world if they do not love strangers?”

Gu Can chuckled. “This is what you call inheriting your father’s legacy with legitimate reason.”

Liu Xianyang endured, but still didn’t say a word or two that would pierce his heart.

Gu Can waited for a moment and was surprised when Liu Xianyang didn’t say anything. “I thought you would use him as an example.”

His father, Gu Tao, was now the Mountain Lord of Shenchen Mountain, one of the three Crown Prince’s Mountains of Piyun Mountain.

Liu Xianyang laughed angrily. “Do you really think I can’t argue with you or curse you? I’ve been tolerating you for so many years.”

Gu Can’s eyes were full of pity. On this matter, if I, Gu Can, say one bad word about you, it’s like rubbing salt in the wound.

Chen Pingan dismantled his argument. “Easy there, boasting is illegal.”

Xiao Mo placed the green bamboo staff across his knees and quietly cracked melon seeds, all of which were given by Little Rice Grain.

Since human affairs are always determined by fate, why should we knot our intestines a hundred times and be unable to be happy?

In the depths of the emerald green mountains shrouded in white clouds, wisps of smoke curled up, whether it was immortal or farming life, it didn’t matter.

Chen Pingan said, “Old Cheng Liu probably has joined Liu Tui and gone to the White Porcelain Grotto-Heaven in Liuxia Continent. He likely wants to make a last-ditch effort there to seek proving the Dao and ascending.”

Gu Can was silent for a moment, then smiled. “It would be great if that scoundrel succeeds in ascending. What I’m waiting for is for rogue cultivators like Old Cheng Liu to roam thousands of miles and eat meat. I’m only afraid that he will hide in Shujian Lake and eat vegetarian food and recite scriptures for the rest of his life.”

Xiao Mo agreed with Gu Can very much. Firstly, Gu Can was beyond reproach with his young master. Secondly, Gu Can’s character and patience would be very popular in the ancient years of “dual cultivation of Dao and strength,” and he would achieve greater success?

Liu Xianyang reminded, “Assuming that day really comes, remember to be fully prepared, choose the right time, especially the location, so that I don’t have to visit you in the Temple of Literature’s Merit Grove.”

Given Gu Can’s personality, he would absolutely not do a loss-making business like fighting with Old Cheng Liu to the death or both sides suffering heavy losses. At most, he would pay the price of dropping one realm in exchange for Old Cheng Liu’s death and disappearance of his Dao. The problem was, what kind of person was Old Cheng Liu? How could he easily give Gu Can such an opportunity? Liu Xianyang was too lazy to think much about these future matters. After reminding him a few times, he would let the little snot run rampant by himself.

Liu Xianyang exclaimed in surprise. Why didn’t Chen Pingan say anything? Because Gu Can had promised Chen Pingan that he would never become Xing Lou and would never give Chen Pingan an opportunity to be Yu Dou.

Chen Pingan said calmly, “The three of us have come this far not by constantly complaining and being full of grievances. It’s enough to do it occasionally.”

“Don’t hold great resentment towards those general, fake, and empty things, such as the state of the world or human nature. That’s the mentality of a weak person.”

“For example, the resentment of some down-and-out literati towards the Dali Dynasty is because they dare not confront real powerful figures, and are also unable to solve any problems at hand, so they only dare to bare their fangs and claws at a huge entity constructed in their minds, calling it integrity. What’s more, some people, who have clearly benefited, still put on a show.”

“But you can hold great hatred or anger towards a specific, real person or thing that is temporarily stronger than you, such as Old Cheng Liu, and then grit your teeth day by day, surpassing someone, solving something.”

“These principles do not include certain figures; they are exceptions.”

These exceptions have left a profound mark on this world, and are destined to continue to influence it for a long time.

Gu Can suddenly asked, “When are we going to perform the wedding ceremony?”

Liu Xianyang said helplessly, “We have to wait for the officiant before we can perform the wedding ceremony.”

According to Liu Xianyang and She Yue’s own wishes, where did they need an officiant?

After all, Mr. Qi, who helped match them, was also gone.

In a sense, could Zhou Mi, who brought She Yue to Haoran, be considered one of the matchmakers? Such a hero, he is also gone.

Throughout history, how many sages, heroes, and villains have made the human world their tomb, without epitaphs or sacrifices?

Therefore, Xiao Mo envied his young master and the other two. He envied both their friendship and their fate. In troubled times, in the dust and calamities, life and death are vast and uncertain, lives are like floating catkins, and there are far too many instances of separation without reunion. After the storm subsides and they survive the ordeal, they can still reminisce together.

Earlier, Xiao Mo drank with Fellow Taoist Bixiao. They would both remember old friends and lament strong enemies.

However, they found it difficult to find a third drinking companion. They couldn’t possibly ask that Qing Tong to come and drink, could they?

At the end of the drinking session, a slightly tipsy Fellow Taoist Bixiao sighed, “Enemies and friends within the seas are becoming as sparse as morning stars.”

Dong Gu, as the first disciple, was responsible for accompanying his master, Ruan Qiong, to welcome the distinguished guests who had close ties with Longquan Sword Sect.

Although Xie Ling had always disliked socializing, on such a day, he also took the initiative to follow Ruan Qiong to the temporarily set up ferry crossing.

Due to a slight misunderstanding with Saint Ruan at the blacksmith’s shop back then, Chen Lingjun thought of making amends, so he pulled God Jun Wei along to be his foil.

As for the relatives and friends who came to attend the wedding banquet for Liu Xianyang, their ferry docked in the vicinity of Youyi Peak. The two best men naturally had to show up with the groom to greet them.

Among the third-generation disciples, besides Li Shenyuan, who entered Zhuhai Peak and became a disciple of Xu Xiaoqiao, Gu Linfen, who entered the mountain later, had the best aptitude. At fifteen years old, he was already a Guan Hai realm sword cultivator.

The young man’s master was Lu Xiting. Longquan Sword Sect was a rather deserted dojo, but this time, the young man truly saw the ways of the mountain world.

Just the large group of陆地仙人 from Fengxue Temple opened Gu Linfen’s eyes.

Chen Lingjun was chatting idly with Gu Linfen, telling the young man about the heroic deeds of Fengxue Temple and Zhenwu Mountain he had heard about. Since the Northern Yue Divine Lord was standing nearby, the young man dared not be presumptuous and could only listen to whatever the green-robed boy said.

Ruan Qiong was in the distance, chatting with a Taoist who also looked like a child, and five old ancestors from various lineages of Fengxue Temple. They chatted about “household matters.” Old Blacksmith Ruan rarely laughed so heartily.

Fengxue Temple, as the “bride’s family” of Longquan Sword Sect, sent many people this time. Except for the Shenxian Terrace, which only had Sword Immortal Wei as a single sprout and could not attend to offer congratulations, the other five lineages, including Dani Gou, Lushu Tan, and Wenqing Peak, all had their patriarchs leading the congratulations. They each selected one or two direct disciples or highly talented second-generation disciples. The younger generation were carefully chosen. Those who were ugly or unattractive, those who were gloomy and unlikable, and those who were arrogant and looked down on everything were not invited to join the fun.

Leading the group was, of course, the Patriarch of Fengxue Temple, Zhao Jingzhen, with the Taoist name “Ling Tong.” His Dao power was profound, and he had returned to simplicity and purity, looking like a child for hundreds of years. He was also a highly renowned senior on the mountains of Bottle Continent. In the past, how arrogant was Li Tuanjing of Fenglei Garden? He had two or three confidants on the continent, and one of them was Zhao Jingzhen, who inherited several ancient Shu sword lineages.

Zhao Jingzhen was both the founding patriarch of one of the two military ancestral courts in Bottle Continent, and now an Immortal realm sword cultivator. However, unlike the Zheng Yang Mountain, which most liked to spend money to save face and would hold grand celebrations as soon as one or two sword cultivators entered the Jade Pure realm, wishing everyone knew.

When Zhao Jingzhen entered the Immortal realm, he only informed the military ancestral court of Middle Earth and received a few congratulations within the Ancestral Hall of Fengxue Temple.

Whether it was through sectarian newspapers or the public statements of certain ancestors, Fengxue Temple and Zhenwu Mountain were experts in openly “praising” Zheng Yang Mountain.

Earlier, when they arrived at Shenxiu Mountain ferry crossing, Patriarch Zhao Jingzhen asked the young disciples to cause some trouble on the mountain road, intending to bring joy. However, they saw the new Dali Imperial Advisor at a glance. How could they still snatch the bride?

A disciple quickly sent a secret flying sword message to the patriarchs, asking what to do. The patriarchs replied, “You figure it out.”

In the end, they all stood obediently by the mountain road, showed up, but did not block the way. They truly “figured it out.”

Unexpectedly, Imperial Advisor Chen also smiled and gave them two red envelopes each. They were all so excited that their faces turned red. One hot-headed young man was particularly enthusiastic. He thought, since I’ve taken the money, I can’t do nothing. He wanted to make up a “bride-snatching” on the spot and stop the groom and the sedan chair… As a result, he was glanced at by Gu Can and immediately cowered.

At this moment, Old Ancestor Qin from the Dani Gou lineage smiled and asked, “On Zhenwu Mountain’s side, will Yue Ding also come to offer congratulations?”

Ruan Qiong nodded. “Not many people, just him and his daughter Song Jing.”

Ancestress Yu Liu of the Lushu Tan lineage said worriedly, “I just received news that on Changchun Palace’s side, Song Yu was furious and immediately convened an Ancestral Hall meeting, stripped Lu Fanlu of her Palace Mistress identity, and directly threw her into prison. Rumor has it that Lu Fanlu attempted to resist and was forcefully suppressed by Song Yu. Finally, a junior named Feng Jie filled the position of Palace Master, Song Yu himself served as the disciplinary elder, Guan Yi, the manager of the Liquan ferry, took charge of finances, and for the remaining positions, the older generation were forced to give way, allowing some younger faces to take over.”

Ruan Qiong was originally from the Lushu Tan lineage, and Yu Liu was his senior sister. Back then, when they “split up,” he voluntarily left a Chang Ju Sword Furnace, on which he had spent countless efforts, to his sect. Fengxue Temple naturally refused to accept it, but Ruan Qiong was stubborn, and Fengxue Temple couldn’t persuade the extremely stubborn Ruan Qiong. Therefore, one of Fengxue Temple’s congratulatory gifts this time was to relocate the entire Chang Ju Sword Furnace to Longquan Sword Sect.

Zhao Jingzhen said calmly, “Let’s not talk about these irrelevant things today. I’ll remind you again, don’t say a single word about Changchun Palace’s family affairs or the Dali Imperial Court’s state affairs today. Boast a little, talk about Zhenwu Mountain, and curse Zheng Yang Mountain a few times is enough.”

Yu Liu sighed.

Old Ancestor Qin stroked his beard and said, “The cultivators of Zhenwu Mountain hold high official positions down the mountain, but in terms of military achievements, they may not be stronger than our Fengxue Temple.”

As for the idea of Fengxue Temple and Zhenwu Mountain each sending ten people to compete in a ring, where Fengxue Temple could make the Zhenwu Mountain cultivators cry for their ancestors, it would be too detrimental to harmony and inappropriate to mention.

In terms of geographical area, Bottle Continent is the smallest continent in Haoran world, almost without exception, but in terms of military status, Bottle Continent is undoubtedly a major continent.

The two ancestral courts, Fengxue Temple and Zhenwu Mountain, the latter is more involved in worldly affairs, and when they go out for training, they go to the dynasties down the mountain to lead troops in battle, more often commanding armies as military generals.

But when it comes to the ability to fight one-on-one, the military cultivators of Fengxue Temple are superior. The first choice for many young talents is almost always the隨軍修士 of the Dali Dynasty.

Moreover, the women of Fengxue Temple are particularly outstanding. For example, Yu Huiting of Wenqing Peak and Qi Qi of Dani Gou have both received the Wushi令牌 issued by the Dali Ministry of Justice for their military achievements. Especially Huangmei Xian, who came from the Dani Gou lineage of Old Ancestor Qin, she even became the Deputy General of Hanzhou. In the previous campaign to suppress the rebellion in Qiu Kingdom, Huangmei Xian showed extreme toughness and decisiveness, far more so than the prefect Situ Xiguang and the Hanzhou General Lu Song, the two border officials, leaving a deeper impression on the three supervising “Dali officials” on the ferry, who were an Imperial Advisor and two Vice Ministers.

Ruan Qiong smiled and asked, “Patriarch Zhao, Old Qin, do you really not plan to persuade Huangmei Xian again to restore her sect lineage status?”

Huangmei Xian had given up her Fengxue Temple lineage status back then, but when she went down the mountain, she kowtowed in the Ancestral Hall and at the mountain gate.

There was unofficial news that Huangmei Xian was about to be promoted to the newly created General of Juzhou in the imperial court.

Zhao Jingzhen shook his head. “I mentioned it, but Huangmei Xian politely refused.”

Afterwards, Zhao Jingzhen and his party exchanged pleasantries with God Jun Wei and flew towards Zhuhai Peak to first visit the Five Blossoms Palace there before going to Youyi Peak.

The two flashy fellows were the first to arrive at the plaza of Five Blossoms Palace at the summit of Zhuhai Peak.

Cui Dongshan shook his sleeves and clapped his hands in praise. “Five Blossoms Palace, a good name.”

Jiang Shangzhen smiled. “I’ve only heard of the Taoist cultivation of ‘Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown, Five Energies Facing the Prime,’ but never of the ‘Five Blossoms’ theory. Am I ignorant?”

Cui Dongshan nodded. “Indeed, Vice Mountain Master Zhou is short-sighted.”

Jiang Shangzhen asked curiously, “Little Brother Cui, please enlighten me.”

Cui Dongshan laughed heartily. “I don’t know why it’s named Five Blossoms Palace either.”

In fact, the three flowers of essence, qi, and spirit are the Dao’s lifespan. When the three flowers fall, the Dao disappears. The three flowers in the inner courtyard not falling symbolize that in one’s lifetime, before death, there is still a time for reunion and a date to meet again.

Perhaps the outside world is not too clear, but this wedding at Longquan Sword Sect is not only the sect master Liu Xianyang marrying his wife and bringing her home, but also the founding patriarch Ruan Qiong “marrying off his daughter.”

Therefore, who the officiant is, is very important.

No matter how little Ruan Qiong cared about ceremony, he wanted to have some face in this matter and let Yu Qianyue marry in a grand manner.

Ruan Qiong is the number one sword smith in Bottle Continent and the Chief Enshrined of the Dali Dynasty. His connections on the mountain have always been very good.

Chen Rong, who is good at painting dragons, is from the Chunru Chen Clan in Nanposuo Continent. He and Ruan Qiong are close friends who have known each other for many years. Back then, Ruan Qiong was able to replace Qi Jingchun as the Sage guarding the small town because the Chunru Chen Clan helped to pass on a few significant words to the Dali Song Clan. The former emperor of the Dali Song Clan, or more precisely, the Imperial Advisor Cui Can, ultimately chose Ruan Qiong to enter Lizhu Grotto-Heaven.

The current head of the Chunru Chen Clan is Chen Chunhua. He, like his elder brother Chen Chunan, is a pillar of the Ya Sheng lineage. However, Chen Chunhua spent a long time studying in the academy, so his reputation was naturally overshadowed by his elder brother, who bore the weight of the sun and moon. But in the eyes of the Confucian orthodoxy within the Temple of Literature in Middle Earth, the difference in the knowledge of the “Two Chens” of Nanposuo Continent is far less significant than the difference in their realms. As for Chen Chunan’s own evaluation, his heart and academic strength were focused on the “elementary learning” of textual research and exegetics of scriptures, while his younger brother Chen Chunhua’s contribution was in “entering the mainstream” and “entering the inner chamber with a spear”… This is probably a private matter of the Chunru Chen Clan and the Ya Sheng lineage behind closed doors.

According to Liu Xianyang, despite Old Blacksmith Ruan’s rough appearance and complete lack of interest in poetry, lyrics, and songs, he was quite devoted to the classics of the Hundred Schools of Thought. He always had only a dozen or so books on his table throughout the year, none of which were rare Daoist books or secret manuals from the mountain. He had some insights on what books to read during what season, or even what time of day, which he seemed to have learned from some book. Just the single bookshelf leaning against the wall contained sets of officially printed books ranging from a few taels of silver to tens of taels of silver.

However, Chen Chunhua was known for his rigorous scholarship and lack of human touch, so Ruan Qiong wasn’t very confident in inviting him to be the officiant. His old friend Chen Rong could only say he would do his best and dared not guarantee anything.

In his letter, Chen Rong hinted to his friend that Chen Chunhua had a very good relationship with Qi Tingji of Longxiang Sword Sect. Afterwards, Ruan Qiong sent a letter in return and didn’t mention this matter. Perhaps in the discarded letter in the bamboo basket, there was a mention or two about something, but Chen Rong had no way of knowing.

Tong Wenchang, the Western Yue Divine Lord, appearing like a rough farmer in coarse cloth shoes, used the Earth Shrinking technique and arrived directly at the Shenxiu Mountain ferry crossing. With a dry tobacco pipe tucked into his waist, the old man clasped his hands and smiled. “Fellow Daoist Ruan, I came uninvited. Please don’t mind. Don’t worry, I won’t drink many pots of your immortal wine.”

In the few previous small court meetings in the Dali Imperial Palace’s imperial study, Ruan Qiong and Tong Wenchang talked the most and were unrestrained in their speech. They often left the imperial study together, hid on the steps outside, one smoking dry tobacco, the other drinking in silence.

Ruan Qiong laughed heartily. “Mountain Lord Tong is too polite.”

Tong Wenchang presented a prepared congratulatory gift and joked, “Chief Ruan should call me Divine Lord Tong. If it were someone else, I would have shown my displeasure and left.”

Just then, a green-robed boy who had been standing at the back of the line darted out, running like the wind, getting ahead of Dong Gu, and respectfully received the gift from Divine Lord Tong with both hands. He poured out a stream of good words like spilling beans, with a loud voice and an even thicker skin. Dong Gu quietly memorized it, deeply admiring it. What great learning. Dealing with people was Dong Gu’s weakest point, but as the first disciple, he had to show up, which he found to be a difficult task. Now, hearing Fellow Daoist Jing Qing’s choice of words, he was enlightened and thought, since mountain interactions can be so shameless, what does he, Dong Gu, have to fear?

Who would have thought that this moment of enlightenment would create the renowned “Dong Bamian” of Longquan Sword Sect in Bottle Continent in the future.

Ruan Qiong was a close friend of the former head of Fenglei Garden, Li Tuanjing. However, the current head, Huang He, had gone to the wilderness battlefield, so only two elderly senior uncles of the head came to offer congratulations this time.

On Zhenwu Mountain’s side, Mountain Master Yue Ding, with the Taoist name “Xue Yuan,” came to offer congratulations with his daughter Song Jing.

The two military ancestral courts had quite a few sword cultivators. Yue Ding himself was a sword cultivator, with his 본명飞剑 “Flower Letter Wind.”

Song Jing did not take her father’s surname. She had a single-character flying sword. The character “Jing” in Song Jing was personally bestowed by Jiang Taigong of the Temple of Military.

Ruan Qiong had not sent out many wedding invitations. The reason he stayed here was to wait for Chen Rong.

Unexpectedly, another unexpected distinguished guest arrived. A ferry from Liuxia Continent, upon approaching the ancestral mountain area, removed its concealment spell. Standing at the bow was an elder with profound Taoist energy. The ferry stopped outside the mountain, and he announced his name. It was Jing Hao, an old Ascended being with the Taoist name Qing Gong Taibao, the leader of the mountains in Liuxia Continent. He even said a few congratulatory words.

Ruan Qiong was greatly surprised. He had no connection with this well-known continental Dao Lord. However, since the person had come from afar, Ruan Qiong was stubborn but not foolish. He immediately smiled and cupped his hands in return, inviting the person to enter the mountain for a drink, and did not forget to thank him a few times.

Chen Lingjun was stunned for a moment. He rubbed his eyes and whispered, “Old Brother Jing… Old Immortal Jing?”

The former was a form of address at the wine table, while the latter was a term used after leaving the wine table and the effects of the alcohol had worn off. Every time after drinking early in the morning, he felt it was inappropriate, but every time he sat at the table in the early morning, after two or three bowls of early wine, Chen Lingjun would forget it again. He would regret it after drinking, continue to call each other brothers while happy, regret it again after leaving the table, and be unrestrained again at the table… Drinking early wine like this meal after meal, they did indeed develop some genuine feelings. After Jing Hao left Fallen Mountain, the green-robed boy missed Old Immortal Jing greatly.

Jing Hao floated down and landed. He used his divine ability to roll up his sleeves and put away the Liuxia Boat. To the Night Roaming God Jun of Piyun Mountain, Dong Gu, Xie Ling, and the others, Jing Hao cupped his hands and said, “Greetings to Divine Lord Wei, and all young friends.”

Wei Bo and the others returned the greeting one by one. Xie Ling was leisurely and did not feel anything special about meeting an old Ascended being. Gu Linfen, however, was extremely nervous.

Jing Hao smiled at the green-robed boy. “Fellow Daoist Jing Qing, it just so happened that I had private business and went to Beiju Luzhou to meet with Heavenly Monarch Xie Shi to discuss the construction of a lower court in Liuxia Continent. Then I received a flying sword message from my disciple Nie Cui’e, informing me that Fellow Daoist Jing Qing was going to travel far.”

Jing Hao presented two congratulatory gifts. “Fellow Daoist Ruan, Heavenly Monarch Xie is currently preparing for seclusion and cannot get away. He entrusted me to deliver the congratulatory gifts and also convey his apologies.”

Ruan Qiong smiled knowingly. “It’s alright. I wish Heavenly Monarch Xie a successful seclusion. This can also be considered a double blessing.”

This was also why Xie Ling had asked Chen Pingan about the customs and traditions of Beiju Luzhou. This long-browed youth from the Xie clan in Taoye Alley would soon make a trip to the north, ostensibly to secretly protect his old ancestor in seclusion. But what kind of protection or guarding does a Taoist Heavenly Monarch who has already proved the Dao and ascended need from a descendant who is only in the Jade Pure realm? The truth is that Xie Shi wanted Xie Ling to join the Taoist lineage. Xie Shi acted openly and aboveboard, stating this matter clearly in the letter. Ruan Qiong had no objections and suggested that Xie Ling not miss this rare opportunity for the Great Dao. On the contrary, Xie Ling was not very keen on leaving Longquan Sword Sect.

After the rain, speaking only of Taoists, there was Heavenly Monarch Cao Rong of Lingfei Palace in Bottle Continent, who ascended at sea. Heavenly Monarch Xie Shi of Beiju Luzhou ascended on a鸾.

Then Xie Shi’s current seclusion has great significance.

Is Beiju Luzhou about to have another Fourteenth Realm cultivator?

As for how Jing Hao’s Qing Gong Mountain and Xie Shi’s dojo, separated by Aiai Continent, came to have such connections, the scenery at the summit is always shrouded in clouds and mist.

Jing Hao, however, knew that when the chaos in Bottle Continent was not yet apparent, Xie Shi was the first peak cultivator to openly cooperate with Dali and Xiu Hu. Back then, a cross-continent ferry crashed in the territory of the old Zhuying Dynasty, and it was Xie Shi who came south to Bottle Continent and took charge in the central part of Bottle Continent.

Jing Hao smiled. “Fellow Daoist Jing Qing, after the wedding banquet, I will be waiting for news of your entry into Qing Gong Mountain.”

Chen Lingjun was about to wave his hand and blurt out a nonsense remark, but suddenly realized that this was not the wine table on Fallen Mountain. He immediately spoke courteously to Old Immortal Jing.

Wei Bo chuckled with his inner voice. “Jing Hao is clearly here for you. Isn’t there a suspicion of overshadowing the host?”

Chen Lingjun was originally only feeling guilty, a kind of shame that “Old Brother Jing treats me as a brother like this, but I’m hesitant whether to pretend to pass by Liuxia Continent without seeing him” and “A bunch of passers-by have misled me.” Hearing Wei Bo’s words, his Dao Heart suddenly trembled, and he cautiously asked, “Will Saint Ruan hold a grudge?”

Wei Bo said, “How would I know what Saint Ruan is thinking? I’m not even on nodding terms with him. You’re more familiar with him.”

Chen Lingjun mumbled, “I haven’t really chatted with Saint Ruan either.”

On Youyi Peak, a ferry specially sent to fetch the kiln workers from the prefecture city of Chuzhou brought them here. Xiao Mo watched his young master, greeting a certain master familiarly, rubbing the heads of their children, chatting about old times, thanking them for their help back then, teaching him skills… Those old or middle-aged men might have even forgotten themselves.

Here at the ancestral mountain, Wei Bo suddenly looked at a mustard seed in the distant sea of clouds with great surprise. It was a ferry coming from the direction of Middle Earth Divine Continent.

On this inconspicuous ferry, not only was Ruan Qiong’s old friend Chen Rong present, but Chen Rong had indeed invited his family head, Chen Chunhua.

But besides them, there was Jiang Taigong, who enjoyed the main sacrificial incense in the human military temple! And Master Dong, the leader of the Temple of Literature, and Vice Leader Han!

Ruan Qiong felt extremely complicated. He was both happy and grateful, but also felt an indescribable awkwardness. What did this level of grandeur have to do with him?

However, knowing that he was definitely kind, Ruan Qiong felt even more awkward saying anything and instead thought he was being petty. After a little struggle, Ruan Qiong resolved it himself and was still genuinely happy for Yu Qianyue and Liu Xianyang to have such a wedding banquet.

After the lively proceedings, everyone took their seats to eat and drink.

Longquan Sword Sect had two large tables of their own, Fallen Mountain had one large table, and Liu Xianyang’s old kiln worker friends had one table.

There was also a main table. Ruan Qiong’s expression was awkward. How to arrange the specific seats “reasonably and礼貌” in the future was a matter of learning. The guests who came were too unexpected. Ruan Qiong was a bit unsure how to arrange their seats. Even Old Immortal Jia was a bit flustered and couldn’t come up with the best plan for a while. He only said where their Mountain Master should sit, should he sit next to Saint Ruan? Should it be based on age, Temple of Literature seniority, or their position in the entire human world? Should it be based on each aspect individually, or a comprehensive calculation? If the Mountain Master was seated, what about the Mountain Master’s wife? Old Daoist Jia was truly worried. Liu Xianyang held back a smile and gently nudged She Yue with his elbow. Huailu, however, was unaware of the undercurrents here; she was still shocked by the scale of today’s wedding. Gu Lingyan was very curious about what the young Hidden Official would do. Ruan Qiong also sighed softly and wanted to pull out a chair next to him and say a few words to someone. Old Daoist Jia quickly turned his head to look next door and immediately stopped worrying.

Everyone saw the best man walk over from the next table, where he had already chosen a seat. He smiled gently, spoke concisely, was polite, and skillfully socialized, inviting Old Master Dong and the others to their seats one by one. After the main table was full, he walked to Gu Can’s side, took the wine pot and cups, and prepared to accompany the groom and bride, toasting with the bridesmaids.